The Kogi State Commissioner of Police has paraded nine suspects for offenses ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, car-snatching and manhood theft.
Parading the suspects at the command headquarters on Tuesday in Lokoja, Commissioner of Police Bethrand Onuoha, said the command has adopted comprehensive crime prevention and detection strategies, including the commencement of intensive raids on identified criminal hideouts, black spots, and flashpoints across the state.
Onuoha noted that the command arrested Thankgod Joseph and Monday Matthew for armed robbery and recovered arms and ammunition, including dangerous weapons. He mentioned the recovery of three dane guns, one short gun, a single-barrel gun, three cutlasses, knives, five palm oil jerrycans, and several charms from the suspects.
Narrating how the two suspects were arrested, the police boss said, “Following a tip-off by the United Onicha-Igo Development Association in Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State, it is alleged, among other things, that a group of hoodlums led by one Sumaila Musa, aka Osama (now at large), ThankGod Joseph, and others, all ‘M’ of Onicha-Igo town in Ofu, had serially turned criminality into business activities as they frequently terrorised the residents of Onicha-Igo and its environs.
“The hoodlums are responsible for a series of armed robbery, thuggery, mischief, assault, causing hurt, kidnapping, and culpable homicide committed at different dates against different individuals in Onicha-Igo Community.
“The hoodlums invaded the house and premises of Mrs. Rachael Agada, firing guns sporadically, robbing the occupants of their valuable properties, kidnapping Mrs. Agada’s house girl named Nawaitu, and stealing her Hilux Van.
“Also, the hoodlums fired guns sporadically and killed Miss Queen Onoja of Onicha-Igo without any just cause.
The Police boss added that Haruna Adamu, Yakubu Mohammed, Abdulmumun Zakari, Akoji Oyibo, Ali Abdulraman were all arrested for criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, armed robbery, and false alarm, while Daniel David was arrested for car theft.
Items recovered from the suspects include an AK-47 Magazine, live AK-47 ammunition, eight communication lines, memory cards, phones, a Military Camouflage Shirt, a pair of Camouflage Trousers, and Peugeot cars.
Onuoha averred that all the suspects arrested had since confessed to their various criminal roles and admitted to carrying out several kidnapping and armed robbery attacks on innocent people, as well as travelers on the major highway in the State.
He explained that the Command has continued to adopt common problem-solving strategies for effective results in Community Policing, improving public confidence in Police service delivery.
While soliciting more cooperation from the good people of Kogi State and urging them to continue providing credible and timely information to the Police, the Commissioner of Police stated that the Command would not relent in its efforts in crime prevention and public safety in the State.
“Those who engage in criminal activities are warned to desist from such and hand over their arms and ammunition to the police engage in something meaningful for their lives or be prepared to face the full consequences of their actions,” he added.
